Vital Records

Vital records refer to official registration of births, deaths, and marriages.

Local registrars, located in county recorders offices, such as Scott County, maintain records of birth, death, and marriages that have occurred in that county.

Certified copies of vital records registered by the Scott County Recorder can be obtained from this office. External Link

Statewide record searches are available from the state registrar, the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Statistics.

Use the chart below to determine the office to contact for your record.

Vital Record Time Period Location
Birth, Death, Marriage 1942-Current Scott County Recorder's Office External Link
Birth, Death, Marriage 1921-1941 Iowa Department of Health External Link
Single-parent births Prior to 1/1/1985 Iowa Department of Health External Link
Single-parent births After 1/1/1985 Scott County Recorder's Office External Link
Birth - Adoptions Prior to 1/1/1985 Iowa Department of Health External Link
Birth - Adoptions After 1/1/1985 Scott County Recorder's Office External Link
Legal Name Changes Prior to 1/1/1985 Iowa Department of Health External Link
Sealed by Court Order All Iowa Department of Health External Link

 

  • Birth Events 1942-1984 must be obtained from the county where the event occurred or the State Registrar.
  • Birth Events 1985-Present are available state-wide regardless of the county where the event occurred.
  • Marriage & Death Events 1942-1953 must be obtained from the county where the event occurred or the State Registrar.
  • Marriage and Death Events 1954-present are available state-wide regardless of the county where the event occurred.

County registrars, however, do not have code authority to have on record:

  • single-parent births prior to January 1, 1985;
  • adoptions prior to January 1, 1985;
  • legal name changes, other than marriage, ordered sealed by a court of law;
  • birth, death, and marriages between the years 1880 to 1941.